NOTE FROM THE CURATOR: From the Egyptian Art Center (EAC), Cairo, a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition for a museum collection, the Pharaoh's remarkable Golden State Chariot was originally commissioned by the Pharaonic Village, Giza, a living museum of Egyptian history (much like Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia). With access to the original chariot in Cairo, EAC employed skilled and dedicated Egyptian artisans to recreate this authentic life-size artifact. Led by two white Arabian horses sporting white plumage above their heads, and an excellent charioteer portraying the youthful Pharaoh, this gilded vehicle thrilled tourists along the main boulevard of the Village from the 1950s to the '70s. Made for real use on modern streets, the chassis is cast of iron with axled ball bearings for its wooden wheels. In order to preserve its near pristine condition, it was retired from public use with the opportunity to acquire it for the collection on view at the Museum of Ancient Wonders. After 70 years, this stunning reproduction continues to engage the imagination and awe of present-day visitors who see it exclusively at the Museum of Ancient Wonders in Cathedral City.
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Golden State Chariot.
Constructed of bentwood and leather to be both sturdy and lightweight, the chariot was introduced to the Egyptians by the Asiatic Hyksos during the early 18th Dynasty. Overlaid with gold foil and decorated with cloisonné inlay, three magnificent ceremonial state chariots were found tangled together in the Antechamber along with the first of the pharaoh’s three undecorated hunting chariots, the rest of which were found in the Treasury.
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All were dismantled and their axles sawed in half to accommodate the narrow corridor leading into the tomb. Among the most splendid and sophisticated examples of an ancient vehicle, this lavish ceremonial chariot was reserved for state parades and royal processions. |
Keeping images of his enemies at his feet, the chariot's decorated inner panels are covered with gilded reliefs depicting bound Asiatic and Nubian captives, and the elaborate wheels of strong, imported elm were originally fitted with rawhide tires. |
One of the many deities that protected the Pharaoh from injury or harm was the lioness dwarf Bes, here depicted flanking both sides of the base of the Chariot. From its first appearance in Egypt in the 16 Century B.C., the chariot was associated with the majesty of the pharaoh. |
MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities while establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
The last admission is taken one hour before closing.
Admission:
$15.00 Adults
$12.00 Students, Seniors, & Military
$ 3.00 Discount available for Coachella Valley Residents
$10.00 Group Rate for 10 or more individuals.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MoAW is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and the California Association of Museums.
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VESSELS OF THE GODS
Treasures of the Ancient Greeks
1650 to 410 B.C.E
Reflecting the brilliance of a millennium of ancient Aegean culture, four distinct periods produced the designs of these vases: Minoan, Mycenaean, Corinthian, and Attic. Essentially consisting of silhouetted figures drawn against a background of red, black, or white, this art form gradually dies out after the Persian wars, c. 475-450 B.C.E. Shaped and painted by hand, these exquisite reproductions were created in Greece by master artists from the originals housed in The National Museum, Athens, The Heraklion Museum, The Thera Museum, The Corinth Museum, The Delphi Museum, The Louvre Museum, The Vatican Museum, and The Museo Civico, Brescia.
Please, feel free to preview this collection on MoAW's website: www.moaw.org
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Next Week:
Do you have a favorite piece at MoAW you would like to see highlighted in our weekly email? You can visit www.moaw.org, see the collections tab, visit the catalogs, and view Spotlights From The Past.
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Members Perks
The newest perk of membership: Free admission to over 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) Plus, discounts at their museum shops and restaurants (if given to their members). Local museums include the Palm Springs Art Museum and Cabot's Pueblo Museum, several museums in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, throughout California, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, plus Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is available to all members at the Donor Level ($125.00) or higher. Current members who qualify will be receiving new membership cards with the NARM logo to be used at participating museums.
Current members who would like to upgrade their membership to take advantage of this new benefit please give us a call, (442) 268-5004.
Click below for more information and to join.
THANK YOU
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ON DISPLAY EXCLUSIVELY
AT THE
MUSEUM OF ANCIENT WONDERS
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FACES OF AFRICA:
A Mystical View of
Tribal Heritage
(38 Replica Masks and Sculptures)
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TUTANKHAMUN:
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
(124 Egyptian replicas)
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MESOZOICA:
The Age of Dinosaurs
(Approximately 100 fossil-cast dinosaur elements and fully-mounted skeletons from around the world.)
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LUCY:
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and the National Museum of Ethiopia,
Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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